Systems and methods for object manipulation with haptic feedback

Abstract

One illustrative computing device disclosed herein includes a sensor configured to detect a user interaction with a physical object and transmit a sensor signal associated with the user interaction. The illustrative computing device also includes a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor configured to: receive the sensor signal; determine a characteristic of the physical object based on the sensor signal; determine a haptic effect associated with the characteristic; and transmit a haptic signal associated with the haptic effect. The illustrative computing device further includes a haptic output device in communication with the processor, the haptic output device configured to receive the haptic signal and output the haptic effect.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A computing device, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a memory including program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 detect an interaction with a virtual object in a virtual environment, wherein the virtual object represents a physical object in real space; 
 in response to detecting the interaction with the virtual object, determine information about the physical object; 
 determine a haptic effect based on the information about the physical object; and 
 transmit a haptic signal configured to cause a haptic output device to output the haptic effect. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the physical object comprises a food item, a piece of furniture, a piece of clothing, a medical tool, or a household appliance. 
     
     
       3. The computing device of  claim 2 , wherein the physical object comprises the food item, and the memory further includes program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to determine the information about the physical object by wirelessly communicating with the household appliance about the food item. 
     
     
       4. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory further includes program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 determine that the physical object has a characteristic that satisfies at least one criterion based on the information about the physical object. 
 
     
     
       5. The computing device of  claim 4 , wherein the haptic effect is configured to indicate that the physical object has the characteristic satisfying the at least one criterion. 
     
     
       6. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is part of a wearable device configured to be coupled to a body part. 
     
     
       7. The computing device of  claim 1 , wherein the information about the physical object comprises:
 (i) an ingredient, an allergen, a chemical, or a material in the physical object; 
 (ii) a dimension, a brand, a price, a rating, a weight, a quantity, or an availability of the physical object; or 
 (iii) an expiration date, a sale, a return policy, a warranty, or nutritional information for the physical object. 
 
     
     
       8. A method comprising:
 detecting, by a processor of a computing device, an interaction with a virtual object in a virtual environment, wherein the virtual object represents a physical object in real space; 
 in response to detecting the interaction with the virtual object, determining, by the processor, information about the physical object; 
 determining, by the processor, a haptic effect based on the information about the physical object; and 
 transmitting, by the processor, a haptic signal configured to cause a haptic output device to output the haptic effect. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the physical object comprises a food item, a piece of furniture, a piece of clothing, a medical tool, or a household appliance. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the physical object comprises the food item, and further comprising determining the information about the physical object by wirelessly communicating with the household appliance about the food item. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining that the physical object has a characteristic that satisfies at least one criterion based on the information about the physical object. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the haptic effect is configured to indicate that the physical object has the characteristic satisfying the at least one criterion. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the computing device is part of a wearable device configured to be coupled to a body part. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the information about the physical object comprises:
 (i) an ingredient, an allergen, a chemical, or a material in the physical object; 
 (ii) a dimension, a brand, a price, a rating, a weight, a quantity, or an availability of the physical object; or 
 (iii) an expiration date, a sale, a return policy, a warranty, or nutritional information for the physical object. 
 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program code that is executable by a processor to cause the processor to:
 detect an interaction with a virtual object in a virtual environment, wherein the virtual object represents a physical object in real space; 
 in response to detecting the interaction with the virtual object, determine information about the physical object; 
 determine a haptic effect based on the information about the physical object; and 
 transmit a haptic signal configured to cause a haptic output device to output the haptic effect. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the physical object comprises a food item, a piece of furniture, a piece of clothing, a medical tool, or a household appliance. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to determine the information about the physical object by communicating with a remote device via a network. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising program code that is executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 determine that the physical object has a characteristic that satisfies at least one criterion based on the information about the physical object. 
 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the haptic effect is configured to indicate that the physical object has the characteristic satisfying the at least one criterion. 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the information about the physical object comprises:
 (i) an ingredient, an allergen, a chemical, or a material in the physical object; 
 (ii) a dimension, a brand, a price, a rating, a weight, a quantity, or an availability of the physical object; or 
 (iii) an expiration date, a sale, a return policy, a warranty, or nutritional information for the physical object.